Isaiah 41:17-29 and Ephesians 2:14-22

ISAIAH 41:17–29
17  When the poor and needy seek water,
          and there is none,
          and their tongue is parched with thirst,
     I the LORD will answer them,
          I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
18  I will open rivers on the bare heights,
          and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
     I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
          and the dry land springs of water.
19  I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
          the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;
     I will set in the desert the cypress,
          the plane and the pine together,
20  so that all may see and know,
          all may consider and understand,
     that the hand of the LORD has done this,
          the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21  Set forth your case, says the LORD;
          bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
22  Let them bring them, and tell us
          what is to happen.
     Tell us the former things, what they are,
          so that we may consider them,
     and that we may know their outcome;
          or declare to us the things to come.
23  Tell us what is to come hereafter,
          that we may know that you are gods;
     do good, or do harm,
          that we may be afraid and terrified.
24  You, indeed, are nothing
          and your work is nothing at all;
          whoever chooses you is an abomination.

25  I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
          from the rising of the sun he was summoned by name.
     He shall trample on rulers as on mortar,
          as the potter treads clay.
26  Who declared it from the beginning, so that we might know,
          and beforehand, so that we might say, “He is right”
     There was no one who declared it, none who proclaimed,
          none who heard your words.
27  I first have declared it to Zion,
          and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings.
28  But when I look there is no one;
          among these there is no counselor
          who, when I ask, gives an answer.
29  No, they are all a delusion;
          their works are nothing;
          their images are empty wind.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPHESIANS 2:14-22
14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

Psalm 89:1-18; Ephesians 2:1-10

PSALM 89:1–18 

1   I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;
          with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2   I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
          your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

3   You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
          I have sworn to my servant David:
4   ‘I will establish your descendants forever,
          and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

5   Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
          your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6   For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
          Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7   a God feared in the council of the holy ones,
          great and awesome above all that are around him?
8   O LORD God of hosts,
          who is as mighty as you, O LORD?
          Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9   You rule the raging of the sea;
          when its waves rise, you still them.
10  You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
          you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11  The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;
          the world and all that is in it — you have founded them.
12  The north and the south — you created them;
          Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13  You have a mighty arm;
          strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
          steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15  Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
          who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance;
16  they exult in your name all day long,
          and extol your righteousness.
17  For you are the glory of their strength;
          by your favor our horn is exalted.
18  For our shield belongs to the LORD,
          our king to the Holy One of Israel.

-------------------------------------------------

EPHESIANS 2:1–10

1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Advent - Week 3 - Joy - Isaiah 11:1-9 and Ephesians 6:1-10

ISAIAH 11:1–9

¹A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, 
     and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 
²The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, 
     the spirit of wisdom and understanding, 
     the spirit of counsel and might, 
     the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 
³His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

 

He shall not judge by what his eyes see, 
     or decide by what his ears hear; 
⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, 
     and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; 
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, 
     and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 
⁵Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, 
     and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

⁶The wolf shall live with the lamb, 
     the leopard shall lie down with the kid, 
the calf and the lion and the fatling together, 
     and a little child shall lead them. 
⁷The cow and the bear shall graze, 
     their young shall lie down together; 
     and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 
⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, 
     and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. 
⁹They will not hurt or destroy 
     on all my holy mountain; 
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD 
     as the waters cover the sea.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

EPHESIANS 6:10-20

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. ¹⁵As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. ¹⁶With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

¹⁸Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. ¹⁹Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

Advent - Week 3 - Joy - 2 PETER 1:1–11 and PSALM 67

2 PETER 1:1–11

¹Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

³His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.⁴Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. ⁵For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, ⁶and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, ⁷and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. ⁸For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. ¹⁰Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. ¹¹For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

------------------------------------------------

PSALM 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,Selah
²that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
³Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

⁴Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
⁵Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

⁶The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
7 May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Advent - Week 2 - Psalm 33 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12–28

PSALM 33

¹   Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.
          Praise befits the upright. 
²   Praise the LORD with the lyre; 
          make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. 
³   Sing to him a new song; 
          play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

⁴   For the word of the LORD is upright, 
          and all his work is done in faithfulness. 
⁵   He loves righteousness and justice; 
          the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

⁶   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, 
          and all their host by the breath of his mouth. 
⁷   He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; 
          he put the deeps in storehouses.

⁸   Let all the earth fear the LORD; 
          let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 
⁹   For he spoke, and it came to be; 
          he commanded, and it stood firm.

¹⁰  The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; 
          he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 
¹¹  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, 
          the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 
¹²   Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, 
          the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

¹³  The LORD looks down from heaven; 
          he sees all humankind. 
¹⁴  From where he sits enthroned he watches 
          all the inhabitants of the earth — 
¹⁵  he who fashions the hearts of them all, 
          and observes all their deeds. 
¹⁶  A king is not saved by his great army;
          a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 
¹⁷  The war horse is a vain hope for victory, 
          and by its great might it cannot save.

¹⁸  Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, 
          on those who hope in his steadfast love, 
¹⁹  to deliver their soul from death, 
          and to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰  Our soul waits for the LORD; 
          he is our help and shield. 
²¹  Our heart is glad in him, 
          because we trust in his holy name.
²²  Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, 
          even as we hope in you.

-----------------------------------------------

I THESSALONIANS 5:12–28

¹²But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; ¹³esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.¹⁴And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. ¹⁵See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise the words of prophets, ²¹but test everything; hold fast to what is good;²²abstain from every form of evil.

 

²³May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

 

²⁵Beloved, pray for us.

 

²⁶Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.

 

²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Psalm 65 and James 3:13-4:12

PSALM 65

¹   Praise is due to you, 
          O God, in Zion; 
     and to you shall vows be performed, 
²        O you who answer prayer! 
     To you all flesh shall come. 
³   When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
          you forgive our transgressions. 
⁴   Happy are those whom you choose and bring near 
          to live in your courts. 
     We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, 
          your holy temple.

⁵   By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, 
          O God of our salvation; 
     you are the hope of all the ends of the earth 
          and of the farthest seas. 
⁶   By your strength you established the mountains; 
          you are girded with might. 
⁷   You silence the roaring of the seas, 
          the roaring of their waves, 
          the tumult of the peoples. 
⁸   Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; 
          you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

⁹   You visit the earth and water it, 
          you greatly enrich it; 
     the river of God is full of water; 
          you provide the people with grain, 
          for so you have prepared it. 
¹⁰  You water its furrows abundantly, 
          settling its ridges, 
     softening it with showers, 
          and blessing its growth. 
¹¹  You crown the year with your bounty; 
          your wagon tracks overflow with richness. 
¹²  The pastures of the wilderness overflow, 
          the hills gird themselves with joy, 
¹³  the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, 
          the valleys deck themselves with grain, 
          they shout and sing together for joy.

___________________________________

JAMES 3:13-4:12

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.¹⁵Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. ¹⁶For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.¹⁸And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

 

¹Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? ²You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. ⁴Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, "God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? ⁶But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.⁸Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

 

¹¹Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.¹²There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?

Psalm 57 and James 2:14–26

PSALM 57

¹   Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, 
          for in you my soul takes refuge; 
     in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, 
          until the destroying storms pass by. 
²   I cry to God Most High, 
          to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 
³   He will send from heaven and save me, 
          he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah 
     God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

⁴   I lie down among lions 
          that greedily devour human prey; 
     their teeth are spears and arrows, 
          their tongues sharp swords.

⁵   Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 
          Let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶   They set a net for my steps; 
          my soul was bowed down. 
     They dug a pit in my path, 
          but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 
⁷   My heart is steadfast, O God, 
          my heart is steadfast. 
     I will sing and make melody. 
⁸        Awake, my soul! 
     Awake, O harp and lyre! 
          I will awake the dawn. 
⁹   I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; 
          I will sing praises to you among the nations. 
¹⁰   For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; 
          your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

¹¹   Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. 
     Let your glory be over all the earth.

____________________________________

JAMES 2:14–26

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?¹⁷So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

 

¹⁸But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. ¹⁹You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder. ²⁰Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?²¹Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. ²³Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.²⁴You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? ²⁶For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

Psalm 130 and James 1:16–25

PSALM 130

¹   Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
²       Lord, hear my voice!
     Let your ears be attentive
          to the voice of my supplications!

³   If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
          Lord, who could stand?
⁴   But there is forgiveness with you,
          so that you may be revered.

⁵   I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
          and in his word I hope;
⁶   my soul waits for the Lord
          more than those who watch for the morning,
          more than those who watch for the morning.

⁷   O Israel, hope in the LORD!
          For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
          and with him is great power to redeem.
⁸   It is he who will redeem Israel
          from all its iniquities.

_________________________________

JAMES 1:16–27

¹⁶Do not be deceived, my beloved.

¹⁷Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ¹⁸In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

¹⁹You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. ²¹Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

²²But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act - they will be blessed in their doing.

Psalm 99 and Ephesians 4:1-16

Psalm 99

[1]   The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!   
         He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!   
[2]   The LORD is great in Zion;   
         he is exalted over all the peoples.   
[3]   Let them praise your great and awesome name.   
         Holy is he!   
[4]   Mighty King, lover of justice,   
         you have established equity;   
    you have executed justice   
         and righteousness in Jacob.   
[5]   Extol the LORD our God;   
         worship at his footstool.   
         Holy is he!   



[6]   Moses and Aaron were among his priests,   
         Samuel also was among those who called on his name.   
         They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.   
[7]   He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;   
         they kept his decrees,   
         and the statutes that he gave them.

[8]   O LORD our God, you answered them;   
         you were a forgiving God to them,   
         but an avenger of their wrongdoings.   
[9]   Extol the LORD our God,   
         and worship at his holy mountain;   
         for the LORD our God is holy.

  *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Ephesians 4:1-16

[1]I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2]with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3]making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4]There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, [5]one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6]one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 

[7]But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. [8]Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people." [9](When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? [10]He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) [11]The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, [12]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13]until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. [14]We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. [15]But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16]from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in
love. 

1 Samuel 16:1-13a and Ephesians 3:14-21

1 Samuel 16:1-13a

[1]The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." [2]Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' [3]Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." [4]Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"
[5]He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

[6]When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the LORD." [7]But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." [8]Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." [9]Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
[10]Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." [11]Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." [12]He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." [13]Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.

********************************************

Ephesians 3:14-21

[14]For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15]from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. [16]I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, [17]and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. [18]I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19]and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

[20]Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, [21]to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 1:1-10 and Psalm 147:1-11

Ephesians 1:1-10

[1]Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

[2]Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[3]Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4]just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. [5]He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, [6]to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. [7]In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace [8]that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight [9]he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, [10]as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 

****************************************

Psalm 147:1-11

[1]   Praise the Lord!   

          How good it is to sing praises to our God;   

          for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.   

[2]   The Lord builds up Jerusalem;   

          he gathers the outcasts of Israel.   

[3]   He heals the brokenhearted,   

          and binds up their wounds.   

[4]   He determines the number of the stars;   

          he gives to all of them their names.   

[5]   Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;   

          his understanding is beyond measure.   

[6]   The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;   

          he casts the wicked to the ground.

[7]   Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;   

          make melody to our God on the lyre.   

[8]   He covers the heavens with clouds,   

          prepares rain for the earth,   

          makes grass grow on the hills.   

[9]   He gives to the animals their food,   

          and to the young ravens when they cry.   

[10]  His delight is not in the strength of the horse,   

          nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;   

[11]  but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,   

          in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 96 and 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Psalm 96

[1]   O sing to the LORD a new song;   
         sing to the LORD, all the earth.   
[2]   Sing to the LORD, bless his name;   
         tell of his salvation from day to day.   
[3]   Declare his glory among the nations,   
         his marvelous works among all the peoples.   
[4]   For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;   
         he is to be revered above all gods.   
[5]   For all the gods of the peoples are idols,   
         but the LORD made the heavens.   
[6]   Honor and majesty are before him;   
         strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.   
[7]   Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,   
         ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.   
[8]   Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;   
         bring an offering, and come into his courts.   
[9]   Worship the LORD in holy splendor;   
         tremble before him, all the earth.

[10]  Say among the nations, "The LORD is king!   
         The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.   
         He will judge the peoples with equity."   
[11]  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;   
         let the sea roar, and all that fills it;   
[12]       let the field exult, and everything in it.   
    Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy   
[13]       before the LORD; for he is coming,   
         for he is coming to judge the earth.   
    He will judge the world with righteousness,   
         and the peoples with his truth.

****************************************

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

[11]Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. [12]And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. [13]And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 

Proverbs 27:1-6, 10-12 and Philippians 2:1-13

Proverbs 27:1-6, 10-12

[1]Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
[2]Let another praise you, and not your own mouth —
a stranger, and not your own lips.
[3]A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
[4]Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who is able to stand before jealousy?
[5]Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
[6]Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts,
but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

[10]Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent;
do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is nearby
than kindred who are far away.
[11]Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.
[12]The clever see danger and hide;
but the simple go on, and suffer for it.

****************************************

Philippians 2:1-13

[1]If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, [2]make my joy
complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3]Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. [4]Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. [5]Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, [6]who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, [7]but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, [8]he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross. [9]Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, [10]so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11]and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[12]Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; [13]for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

1 John 4:7-21 and Psalm 99

1 John 4:7-21

[7]Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. [8]Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. [9]God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. [10]In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. [11]Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. [12]No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

[13]By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [14]And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. [15]God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. [16]So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

[17]Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. [18]There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. [19]We love because he first loved us. [20]Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. [21]The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

****************************************

Psalm 99

[1]   The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!  

          He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!  

[2]   The LORD is great in Zion;  

          he is exalted over all the peoples.  

[3]   Let them praise your great and awesome name.  

          Holy is he!  

[4]   Mighty King, lover of justice,  

          you have established equity;  

     you have executed justice  

          and righteousness in Jacob.  

[5]   Extol the LORD our God;  

          worship at his footstool.  

          Holy is he!  

[6]   Moses and Aaron were among his priests,  

          Samuel also was among those who called on his name.  

          They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.  

[7]   He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;  

          they kept his decrees,  

          and the statutes that he gave them.

[8]   O LORD our God, you answered them;  

          you were a forgiving God to them,  

          but an avenger of their wrongdoings.  

[9]   Extol the LORD our God,  

          and worship at his holy mountain;  

          for the LORD our God is holy.

1 John 3:18-24 and Psalm 57

1 John 3:18-24

[18]Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. [19]And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him [20]whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. [21]Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; [22]and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

[23]And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. [24]All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

****************************************

Psalm 57

[1]   Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
          for in you my soul takes refuge;
     in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
          until the destroying storms pass by.
[2]   I cry to God Most High,
          to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
[3   ]He will send from heaven and save me,
          he will put to shame those who trample on me.           Selah
     God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

[4]   I lie down among lions
          that greedily devour human prey;
     their teeth are spears and arrows,
          their tongues sharp swords.

[5]   Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
          Let your glory be over all the earth.

[6]   They set a net for my steps;
          my soul was bowed down.
     They dug a pit in my path,
          but they have fallen into it themselves.                      
Selah
[7]   My heart is steadfast, O God,
          my heart is steadfast.
     I will sing and make melody.
[8]        Awake, my soul!
     Awake, O harp and lyre!
          I will awake the dawn.
[9]   I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
          I will sing praises to you among the nations.
[10]   For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
          your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

[11]   Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
     Let your glory be over all the earth.

1 John 2:1-11 and Psalm 123

1 John 2:1-11

[1]My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; [2]and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

[3]Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments.
[4]Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; [5]but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: [6]whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked.

[7]Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. [8]Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. [9]Whoever says, "I am in the light," while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. [10]Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. [11]But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

****************************************

Psalm 123

[1]   To you I lift up my eyes,  
          O you who are enthroned in the heavens!  
[2]   As the eyes of servants  
          look to the hand of their master,  
     as the eyes of a maid  
          to the hand of her mistress,  
     so our eyes look to the LORD our God,  
          until he has mercy upon us.

[3]   Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,  
          for we have had more than enough of contempt.  
[4]   Our soul has had more than its fill  
          of the scorn of those who are at ease,  
          of the contempt of the proud.

1 John 1:1-10 and Psalm 135

1 John 1:1-10

[1]We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - [2]this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us - [3]we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. [4]We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 

[5]This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. [6]If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; [7]but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. [8]If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9]If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10]If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

****************************************

Psalm 135

[1]   Praise the LORD!   
         Praise the name of the LORD;   
         give praise, O servants of the LORD,   
[2]   you that stand in the house of the LORD,   
         in the courts of the house of our God.   
[3]   Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;   
         sing to his name, for he is gracious.   
[4]   For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,   
         Israel as his own possession.

[5]   For I know that the LORD is great;   
         our Lord is above all gods.  
[6]   Whatever the LORD pleases he does,   
         in heaven and on earth,   
         in the seas and all deeps.   
[7]   He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth;   
         he makes lightnings for the rain   
         and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

[8]   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,   
         both human beings and animals;   
[9]   he sent signs and wonders   
         into your midst, O Egypt,   
         against Pharaoh and all his servants.   
[10]  He struck down many nations   
         and killed mighty kings --   
[11]  Sihon, king of the Amorites,   
         and Og, king of Bashan,   
         and all the kingdoms of Canaan --   
[12]  and gave their land as a heritage,   
         a heritage to his people Israel.

[13]  Your name, O LORD, endures forever,   
         your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.   
[14]  For the LORD will vindicate his people,   
         and have compassion on his servants.

[15]  The idols of the nations are silver and gold,   
         the work of human hands.   
[16]  They have mouths, but they do not speak;   
         they have eyes, but they do not see;   
[17]  they have ears, but they do not hear,   
         and there is no breath in their mouths.   
[18]  Those who make them   
         and all who trust them   
         shall become like them.

[19]  O house of Israel, bless the LORD!   
         O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!   
[20]  O house of Levi, bless the LORD!   
         You that fear the LORD, bless the LORD!   
[21]  Blessed be the LORD from Zion,   
         he who resides in Jerusalem.   
    Praise the LORD!

 

Romans 12:9-21 and Psalm 97

Romans 12:9-21

[9]Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; [10]love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. [11]Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. [12]Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. [13]Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

[14]Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. [15]Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. [16]Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. [17]Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. [18]If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. [19]Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." [20]No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." [21]Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

****************************************

Psalm 97

[1]   The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;  

          let the many coastlands be glad!  

[2]   Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;  

          righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.  

[3]   Fire goes before him,  

          and consumes his adversaries on every side.  

[4]   His lightnings light up the world;  

          the earth sees and trembles.  

[5]   The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,  

          before the Lord of all the earth.

[6]   The heavens proclaim his righteousness;  

          and all the peoples behold his glory.  

[7]   All worshipers of images are put to shame,  

          those who make their boast in worthless idols;  

          all gods bow down before him.  

[8]   Zion hears and is glad,  

          and the towns of Judah rejoice,  

          because of your judgments, O God.  

[9]   For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;  

          you are exalted far above all gods.

[10]  The LORD loves those who hate evil;  

          he guards the lives of his faithful;  

          he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.  

[11]  Light dawns for the righteous,  

          and joy for the upright in heart.  

[12]  Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,  

          and give thanks to his holy name!

Romans 12:1-8 and Psalm 89:1-18

Romans 12:1-8

[1]I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2]Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

[3]For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. [4]For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, [5]so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. [6]We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; [7]ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; [8]the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. 

*****************************************

Psalm 89:1-18

[1]   I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;   
         with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. 

[2]   I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;   
         your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

[3]   You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,   
         I have sworn to my servant David:   
[4]   'I will establish your descendants forever,   
         and build your throne for all generations.'"                   
Selah

[5]   Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,   
         your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.   
[6]   For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?   
         Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,   
[7]   a God feared in the council of the holy ones,   
         great and awesome above all that are around him?   
[8]   O LORD God of hosts,   
         who is as mighty as you, O LORD?   
         Your faithfulness surrounds you.   
[9]   You rule the raging of the sea;   
         when its waves rise, you still them.   
[10]  You crushed Rahab like a carcass;   
         you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.   
[11]  The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;   
         the world and all that is in it -- you have founded them.   
[12]  The north and the south -- you created them;   
         Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.   
[13]  You have a mighty arm;   
         strong is your hand, high your right hand.   
[14]  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;   
         steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.   
[15]  Happy are the people who know the festal shout,   
         who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance;   
[16]  they exult in your name all day long,   
         and extol your righteousness.   
[17]  For you are the glory of their strength;   
         by your favor our horn is exalted.   
[18]  For our shield belongs to the LORD,   
         our king to the Holy One of Israel.

 

Hebrews 12:3-11 and Psalm 148

Hebrews 12:3-11

[3]Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. [4]In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. [5]And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children — "My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him; [6]for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts." [7]Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? [8]If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. [9]Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? [10]For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. [11]Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

****************************************

Psalm 148

[1]   Praise the Lord!  
     Praise the Lord from the heavens;  
          praise him in the heights!  
[2]   Praise him, all his angels;  
          praise him, all his host!

[3]   Praise him, sun and moon;  
          praise him, all you shining stars!  
[4]   Praise him, you highest heavens,  
          and you waters above the heavens!

[5]   Let them praise the name of the Lord,  
          for he commanded and they were created.  
[6]   He established them forever and ever;  
          he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

[7]   Praise the Lord from the earth,  
          you sea monsters and all deeps,  
[8]   fire and hail, snow and frost,  
          stormy wind fulfilling his command!

[9]   Mountains and all hills,  
          fruit trees and all cedars!  
[10]  Wild animals and all cattle,  
          creeping things and flying birds!

[11]  Kings of the earth and all peoples,  
          princes and all rulers of the earth!  
[12]  Young men and women alike,  
          old and young together!

[13]  Let them praise the name of the Lord,  
          for his name alone is exalted;  
          his glory is above earth and heaven.  
[14]  He has raised up a horn for his people,  
          praise for all his faithful,  
          for the people of Israel who are close to him.  
     Praise the Lord!